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Scientists race to develop vaccine for new coronavirus

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By Catherine Lai

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Scientists race to develop vaccine for new coronavirus . . .

which will be ready for use on the masses sometime next year.

The Chinese government has blown it yet again. Apparently they didn't learn anything the last time. The Chinese arrested the whistle-blower/doctor, who's dead now because of the coronavirus, and then the whole Chinese government buried its head in the sand and pretended the problem didn't exist. And now the Chinese government is screaming for help from the international community. Perhaps if you're Chinese this all makes perfect sense in a very disturbing kind of way, but it's quite baffling for the outside world.

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@wipeout; I have not yet "dreamed up" any numbers. It seems we both agree that the numbers being put out by the CCP are likely not credible. In this case we would likely both agree we really do not know the total number of infections or death at this time. It seems we also agree the number is much higher (how much is debatable).

@theFU; you also have a valid point. It is very possible the number infected is much much higher, some of those got better and these were never reported. This could make the death rate much less than 2%.

I think the error the CCP made was trying to cover up the hero doctor, Li Wenliang's attempt to warn people about this and instead of making this information available they threatened to arrest him. The doctor's warning was on December 27, 2019 which was a great deal of time in advance of the Chinese New Year.

Just imagine if the CCP would have heeded the doctor's warning. It is very likely that this situation would not be so bad now. I think it is to the point where even the CCP has no idea how many infections there are.

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Strains of coronavirus were first identified in the 1960's and there has been many variations and outbreaks over the following decades. The SARS outbreak saw a very similar mortality rate. However, as stated in the article, it died out before a vaccine could be created. I'm wondering if they continued their efforts to create a vaccine after it died out. I'm also wondering if they will continue to develop a vaccine for this strain if it does die out quickly. I am not a chemist, but surely these closely related viruses could be treated and contained with the same or similar vaccine. The pharmacists have had 60 odd years to work on it, but only seem to 'get busy' when there is an outbreak of a new strain.

Wikipedia - Coronaviruses were discovered in the 1960s.[6] The earliest ones discovered were infectious bronchitis virus in chickens and two viruses from the nasal cavities of human patients with the common cold that were subsequently named human coronavirus 229E and human coronavirus OC43.[7] Other members of this family have since been identified, including SARS-CoV in 2003, HCoV NL63 in 2004, HKU1 in 2005, MERS-CoV in 2012, and 2019-nCoV in 2019; most of these have been involved in serious respiratory tract infections.

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@Vaccines for a self limiting infection that apparently leaves the vast majority of the patients alive and well and with immunity? not at all lucrative. Specially because it will be ready when the situation is already under control in one way or another. What would be lucrative is the technology of flash-development for a vaccine in case of an emerging pathogen whatever it is.

Make your point clear you say it's not but then state it is. Read original post again, think about it and repost. There was no time limit stated just a target that will lead to profits which you pointed out based on tech in either case my original post remains it will be lucrative.

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On the news today they were saying that of the 37,000 confirmed cases, something like 6,500 were seriously ill.

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The numbers we have are all the numbers there are. Lots of people seem to get the virus and only have mild symptoms, so they never get tested. Then those people get better after a few days, just like with many other seasonable illnesses.

Regardless of the govt involved, people like that aren't going to get a doctor involved, won't be tested, won't be counted.

All we will ever know are the serious cases-to-death ratios, assuming no suppression of data.

Anyone else find it curious that almost all the deaths happen in China? What are the other countries doing better or is it just a numbers thing? Until there are 50+ cases in a country, for Wuhan Virus with a 2-3% death rate, there just aren't sufficient cases statistically to have 1 death?

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Which big Pharma will hit the target first as it will be lucrative business and rise in stock prices..

Vaccines for a self limiting infection that apparently leaves the vast majority of the patients alive and well and with immunity? not at all lucrative. Specially because it will be ready when the situation is already under control in one way or another.

What would be lucrative is the technology of flash-development for a vaccine in case of an emerging pathogen whatever it is. But we are still several years too early to actually have it. That would be a lucrative product, advanced technology that could be licensed to governments for these cases.

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@wipeout

This is all premised on the fact you believe the information being provided by the CCP.

I am not among the believers

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@minello

but the 100 deaths a day is slightly exaggerated.

I think the 100 deaths a day is way, way too low. I believe it is much higher

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/08/803766743/critics-say-china-has-suppressed-and-censored-information-in-coronavirus-outbrea

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It has to be backed by governments because private companies would be reticent to spend many millions of dollars for a vaccine that, if it even comes, may likely come months too late - when the epidemic has died down and not as many people need it anymore - meaning there won't be enough buyers to offset the costs to expedite its development

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Which big Pharma will hit the target first as it will be lucrative business and rise in stock prices..

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Urge to develop a vaccine that customers can afford.

Nothing for years for viruses killing people in Africa ... no money, no vaccine ...

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"If it's not in time for this round, it is important for the next time." A bit of reality at the end

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Will the author of this article please check their facts before going to print "The new virus has spread rapidly since emerging late last year in China, killing more than 800 people in the mainland and infecting over 37,000." "But even a time frame of six months looks agonisingly slow with the virus, believed to have emerged from a market selling wild animals, killing close to 100 people every day in mainland China" I agree that this is a very serious situation, and I wish all those dedicated researchers worldwide speedy success, but the 100 deaths a day is slightly exaggerated.

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